John m



(No Model.)

J. M. STUART. Traction Wheel.

Patented Jan. 11,1881.

7%- (357mm 77 WW N-PETERS, PHUYOILITHOGRAPNER, wAsnmGTcN. D c

UNITED STATES ATENT FFECEO JOHN M. STUART, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

TRACTION-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 236,646, dated January11, 1881.

Application filed November 18, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1,JOHN M. STUART, of New York city, in the county andState of New York, have invented certain I mprovements inTraction-\Vheels for Locomotive-Engines, Carriages, &c., of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, inwhich Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the driving-wheel ot' alocomotive-engine with my improvements applied thereto, some of theparts being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through thecenter of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a pair of wheelsconnected. My present invention relates to certain improvements in thatclass of driving-wheels for locomotives, traction-engines,railroad-cars, or wagons in which the body of the vehicle to which theyare attached is designed to rest near the track or roadway, the axlesbeing located near the lower point of the periphery of the driving ortrack wheel, and the entire weight of theeugine or carriage, with theload thereon, resting on the inside of the tire of said wheel,contiguousto the track or ground; and my said invention consists in thepeculiar construction of such wheels and of certain auxiliary wheels andmechanism connected therewith, as will hereinafter be fully describedand claimed, whereby the driving or track wheels are maintained in truevertical position without lateral strain, and thus effectively operatedwith a minimum expenditure of power.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention,I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawings, A represents an open track-wheel provided with aflange, a, and rim or tire I), within the inner side of which is formeda continuous or annular groove, 0, which serves as a guideway or pathfor the burden or supporting wheels at d (I, the journals of whichrevolve in suitable bearings in the lower portion of an uprightstandard, B. Within the upper part of this standard B is fitted theshort vertical arbor e of a small horizontal wheel or friction-roller,j, which rotates (No model.)

. freely in the annular groove 0 of the rim, and thus tends to diminishfrictional or lateral strain at the upper part of the wheel A, andmaintains it at all times in atrue vertical position, the rollerffitting loosely on its arbor c, and the latter being tightly securedwithin the standard 13. The bottom of each standard terminates inbifurcations h h, for the reception of the burden-wheels d d d, whichare fitted tightly to their journals, the latter turning freely in theirbearings in said bifurcations. A pair of standards, B, are connectednear their lower ends by an axle, O, bolted thereto and extendingtransversely between them, the truck or body of the engine or carriage(not shown) being intended to be supported by said axle. Suitable oilcups or receptacles are provided at necessary points, by which the partsare lubricated.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings the operationand advantages of my invention will be readily appreeiated.

When applied to the driving-wheels of a locomotive-engine theconnecting-rod may be attached, by means ofa crank, to the center one ofthe small or burden wheels d, which, through its frictional beari n g inthe groove cot'the driving-wheel A, revolves the latter, being assistedby the two remaining burden-wheels d d, the three wheels (I d d, inconjunction with the frictional roller f, also serving as guides toinsure the driving-wheelA being constantly kept in a vertical plane ofrevolution, thereby obviating undue strain of the parts.

The operation is substantially the same in other wheels to which myinvention may be adapted.

By applying power in the manner above described to ordinary street-carsand omnibuses, the body of the vehicle may rest close to the ground,thus permitting passengers to enter from the street-level without theuse of steps.

It is believed that by the application of my improvements to astreet-car one horse will be enabled to draw it with less eifort than isnow exerted by two in drawing a car of the present construction.

I do not limit myself to the use of three burden-wheels, d, as theirnumber may be vairied to conform to the size of the traclowheel ner sideof its rim for the reception of wheels 10 without departing from thespirit of my invend and roller f, as and for the purose set forth.

tion. Witness my hand this 11th day of October,

I claim- 1880. The standard 13, having one or more wheels 01, pivotedwithinits lower bifurcated end, and JOHN STUART" with a roller, f, atits upper end, in combina- In presence of-- tion with the inclosingdriving or track wheel OHAs. EDGAR MILLS, A, having an annular groove,0, within the in- E. J. BUNKER.

